The relationship between maternal personal growth during pregnancy and infant neurodevelopment

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/bethunivj.39.1-2022.02
• Published date: 24 November 2022
• Date: 24 November 2022
• Author: Jose Puertas-Gonzalez,Borja Romero-Gonzalez,Rafael Caparros-Gonzalez,Carolina Mariño-Narvaez,María Peralta-Ramirez
• Subject Matter: pregnancy,personal growth,infant, neurodevelopment

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The Relationship between Maternal Personal

Growth during Pregnancy and Infant

Neurodevelopment

Jose A. Puertas-Gonzalez1,2, Borja Romero-Gonzalez3*, Rafael

A. Caparros-Gonzalez4,5, Carolina Mariño-Narvaez1, María

Isabel Peralta-Ramirez1,2

1Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Center (CIMCYC), Granada, Spain

2Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment Department, Faculty of Psychology,

University of Granada, Granada, Spain

3Psychology Department, Faculty of Education, Campus Duques de Soria, University of

Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.

4Nursing Department. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, (Granada,) Spain.

5Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs. Granada, Granada, Spain

*Corresponding author: Borja Romero-Gonzalez. Psychology Department, Faculty of

Education, Campus Duques de Soria. University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.

Abstract

Optimal adaptation to changes that occur during pregnancy is essential to prevent possible

negative effects on maternal psychological health (such as stress or postpartum depression).

In fact, an adequate adaptation to the new life situation has implications on the subsequent

offspring´s development. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate the

potential association between levels of personal growth and maternal age during pregnancy

with the subsequent cognitive and motor neurodevelopment of the offspring at 6 months of

age. Twenty-three pregnant women participated in this longitudinal study. The participants

were assessed during the three trimesters of pregnancy using the Ryff Psychological Well-

being Scale (Ryff, 1989). The neonates´ neurodevelopment was assessed using the BSID-III

at 6 months of age. A multiple linear regression analysis was carried out using maternal

growth during pregnancy and gestational age as independent variables, and the levels of

cognitive and motor neurodevelopment of the babies at 6 months of age as dependent

variables. The results showed that personal growth during pregnancy predicted cognitive

neurodevelopment. Personal growth was also positively related with the scalar score of the

ne motor subscale. Findings from this study suggest that maternal personal growth during

pregnancy is a predictor of the later infants´ neurodevelopment at 6 months of age.

Keywords: pregnancy; personal growth; infant; neurodevelopment.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article do not represent the opinions

of the Journal’s editorial board and staff of the Dean of Research at Bethlehem University.

The accuracy of the material and any errors in this publication are the sole responsibility of

the author(s).

DOI: 10.13169/bethuniv.39.1-2022.02